Venezuela’s Opposition, Riding High Not Long Ago, Suffers a Crippling Blow

Colombia, Argentina, Peru, Panama, Mexico, Costa Rica, Paraguay, the United States and the EU reiterated today their warning that they will not recognize the Constituent Assembly in Venezuela and urged President Nicolás Maduro to reestablish democracy, .

The election of a National Constituent Assembly held last Sunday in the midst of protests left 10 dead, according to the prosecution, and 14 according to the opposition alliance Mesa de la Unidad Democrática (MUD).

The MUD refused to participate in this process that it considered fraudulent and in which, according to the Government, voted more than 8 million Venezuelans.

USA Warned that it will take more action against the "architects of authoritarianism" and study a new series of sanctions, now against the Venezuelan oil industry.

Mexico maintained that "it is time" to privilege dialogue and reconciliation "with guarantees that allow the Venezuelan people to restore democratic order.

Colombia assured that "the installation by force of an illegitimate Constituent Assembly" will lead to Venezuela to break the democracy and made a new call to the Government of Maduro "to commit to a negotiated political agreement that allows to create the bases to overcome the serious political crisis , Economic and social.

Peru convened a meeting of Latin American chancellors on August 8 in Lima to assess the situation in Venezuela and its impact on the democratic order.

Chile, which said that the vote was an "illegitimate decision" that was carried out "without the minimum guarantees for a universal and democratic vote," confirmed its attendance at the meeting convened by the Government of Peru.

Argentine Foreign Minister Jorge Faurie said it is not "far" for Mercosur to apply the "democratic clause" to Venezuela, where "there is no democracy" and said that Brazil is analyzing a meeting of the bloc that was suspended in Venezuela.

Paraguay reaffirmed "its position of ignoring the illegal convocation" of the Constituent Assembly and called for dialogue, bearing in mind that "the efforts of the region and the international community have been unsuccessful.

Costa Rica urged all states and international organizations to "ignore those results" and asked the Government of Maduro "to recover the path of reason and listen to the clamor of its people."

Uruguay, which depending on the development of the facts will evaluate whether or not to recognize the Constituent Assembly, urged the Government to establish a channel for dialogue with society and to respect human rights.

Guatemala said that the only way out of a crisis "that tends to become more acute" is dialogue and said that the election was made "without taking into account the many requests of a large part of the population, as well as the international community."

Panama does not recognize the results of the Constituent Assembly election for "vices" in the process and President Juan Carlos Varela accused Maduro of preferring "confrontation."

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said Venezuela "is on the brink of disaster" and called the Assembly vote "dubious" the "further deepening of the problems and tension" in the Caribbean country.

Portugal reiterated that the solution to the serious economic and social crisis must be a commitment that involves "a return to constitutional normality" and that takes place within the framework of "an electoral calendar agreed between the parties."

France considered that the Constituent Assembly "threatens to further aggravate the strong tensions that the country has undergone since last April", for which he called for "a credible national dialogue".

Germany condemned the "disproportionate use" of force in elections to the Constituent Assembly, which were made "without the democratic guarantees" of freedom or confidentiality of the vote and urged the Government to initiate "serious negotiations" with the opposition.

Italy called for "the urgent need for a constructive dialogue with the opposition," which must be based on the four conditions proposed by the Holy See to "prevent the risk of a definitive political and institutional fracture" in Venezuela.

A spokeswoman for EU Foreign Policy High Representative Federica Mogherini said that she "has great doubts about whether the outcome can be recognized" and said that "a joint response" is being made to the possibility of sanctions, such as Asked Spain if these elections were to be held.